I had a roommate in college who decided to become an electrician. He went through a two year apprenticeship program, working side by side with an electrician during the day and going to electrician classes at night, again taught by people who were already electricians. This is what it means to be an “apprentice.” It’s kind of like “on the job training,” working with someone who is already a “master” in the field. Jesus, THE master, ran an “apprenticeship” program. He said, “Come, follow me”….and so began the apprenticeship. In fact, it seems to me for us another word for apprentice would be disciple. Jesus was training each of his disciples to be a “master” in ministry who in turn trained others (apprentices!) to be “masters” in ministry after them. It is the same for us. Each of us is called to be an apprentice, to be mentored as a disciple…..and each of us is also called to be a mentor, one who is training an apprentice to take their place in ministry as mentors and leaders themselves. This is our focus today.
